Jews say they do not feel safe in their Australian home

One of Australia’s most prominent Holocaust survivors has warned that the nation was having an ‘anarchic reaction’ to the Israel-Hamas War.

Israeli Ambassador Amir Maimon at the Embassy of Israel in Canberra. Picture: Martin Ollman

One of Australia’s most prominent Holocaust survivors has warned that the nation was having an “anarchic reaction” to the Israel-Hamas War and a generation of Jews at risk from a wave of anti-Semitism as anti-Israel protests erupted over the Christmas week.

Nina Bassat – who narrowly avoided the Nazi’s concentration camps as a toddler and whose father was killed during WWII – said on Monday that the protest hijacking of Carols by Candlelight had shook her to “the core” and that some Australians were failing to distinguish terror group Hamas from Palestine.

The 84-year-old’s comments come after anti-Israel activists filmed themselves protesting outside shops in Melbourne’s biggest shopping centre and the Christmas Eve disruption of the Carols.

“Not necessarily from a Jewish perspective, but (the disruption at) the Carols by Candlelight shook me,” the first Holocaust survivor to chair the Executive Council of Australian Jewry said.

“It showed an anarchic reaction in our society, that nothing seems to matter other than the loudest voice … (even though) people are celebrating Christmas.

Holocaust survivor 84-year-old Nina Bassat. Picture: David Geraghty

“It’s a powerful thing (Carols by Candlelight), whether you’re Christian, Catholic, Jewish, whatever – and it (onstage activism) was symbolic of the anarchy that is taking place in society.”

Ms Bassat’s comments also come after Israeli ambassador Amir Maimon called Anthony Albanese’s Israel-Palestine position “contradictory”, said his country was “held to a different measure”, and lamented that Israeli citizens felt unsafe in Australia.

“We are suffering and frightened,” Ms Bassat said, one of more than 100 Holocaust survivors who signed a statement calling on Australians to denounce anti-Semitism and avoid “repeating history”.

She and her widowed mother, having been miraculously saved on their way to a concentration camp from the ghetto, were harboured by a Ukrainian woman until liberation.

“My children’s generation, (my) grandchildren, they were born here – this is their country,” Ms Bassat said.

“They are shaken to their core about how quickly and venomously this (anti-Semitism) has happened.”

Ms Bassat said her heart bled for “every child, adult and civilian lost” – “I know what war is like” – but said she feared Australia was “falling to bits”.

“In Melbourne and Sydney, you have town halls flying Palestinian flags,” she said.

“It’s Israel v Hamas, not Israel v Palestine. Do we want to become an outpost of Hamas terrorists?”

Ms Bassat’s comments come after the Israel’s ambassador told The Australian the Albanese government’s war stance was “contradictory” and that his own country’s citizens didn’t feel secure.

Peter Dutton. Picture: Richard Dobson

Anthony Albanese. Picture: Emily Barker.

On Tuesday, Peter Dutton said it was concerning that an ally’s ambassador felt forced to intervene.

“It’s almost unprecedented that an ambassador would be forced to intervene in this way,” the Opposition Leader said.

“Israel has a senior, credible, and incredibly accomplished ambassador. The actions of the prime minister and his government are far from reassuring – and it’s unfortunate that the ambassador has been forced to call it out.”

Mr Maimon said his embassy and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government “had a responsibility” to raise travel warnings for citizens visiting Australia amid “frequent” pro-Palestine demonstrations.

It comes as reports of serious incidents of anti-Semitism across Australia since Hamas’ October 7 attacks surged by 738 per cent, according to a report by Executive Council of Australian Jewry, the country’s peak Jewish body.

“The Jewish community has been rattled by the lack of leadership from the prime minister, while his senior ministers play to their electorates,” Mr Dutton said.

“We should be strong in demonstrating our resolve for the elimination of Hamas, and in the condemnation of anti-Semitism without qualification. And we should be supporting our Jewish community in their time of need.”

According to ECAJ’s report, 662 anti-Semitic incidents in October and November compares with 79 in the same period last year, a 738 per cent rise.

The peak Jewish body’s co-chief executive, Alex Ryvchin, echoed views that certain politicians appeared too focused on the views of their electorates.

“The Jewish community has been confronted by the normalisation of anti-Semitism, and the vicious incitement and disinformation that we fear is conditioning the minds of a new generation,” he said.

“The ease with which online influencers in particular peddle classic anti-Semitic tropes about greed, power and bloodlust under the guise of pro-Palestinian activism has been shocking.

“The fact that these people retain enormous followings and are still welcome in civilised society shows us that anti-Semitism is viewed as a lesser crime than any other form of racism.”

Mr Ryvchin said the community – “still wounded from Hamas’ atrocities and the reactions to them” – would not be “pushed around”.

“We have stared down greater foes than bloggers, small-minded clerics and politicians who put preselection above principle,” he said.

Previously, Mr Maimon posted on social-media platform X his concern about the southwest Sydney clerics, who The Australian revealed had called for jihad, recited parables about killing Jews, and urged Islamic countries to “spit on Israel” so the “Jews would drown”.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin. Picture: Richard Dobson

Both state and federal police dropped investigations into the sermons.

“One can only wonder: where, if at all, a line will be drawn,” the ambassador said on December 10.

On the government’s “contradictory” ceasefire stance, Mr Ryvchin said “demands should be made of the aggressor, Hamas”.

“This is not a war between two legitimate actors … it is a war between jihadist torturers and a civilised country,” he said.

“Whenever the government calls for a ceasefire or places demands on Israel it signals to Hamas that they have legitimacy and can cling to power.”

The Prime Minister’s office referred questions from The Australian to Mr Albanese’s previous comments condemning Hamas, that a ceasefire “can’t be one-sided … (and must) involve security for Israel”, and how the terrorist group couldn’t be part of Gaza’s future.

Speaking on Christmas Day, when asked about the Carols by Candlelight activism, Mr Albanese said social cohesion was “absolutely critical”.

“This is a time in which we come together as a nation,” Mr Albanese said. “And it’s important that be cherished and nourished and that we don’t seek to divide.”